The two maids exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.
“Of course, Miss! Have you become muddle-headed from sleeping too much? The only Duke in the world who could possibly be mentioned together with Eldest Miss is that one.”
Pei Yunting shot them a mock glare.
“You’re making too much noise.”
The story between Pei Yaosheng and Wen Jingxu ran deep—far too complicated to explain in just a few sentences.
As for Wen Jingxu himself, his life had been filled with twists and hardships.
Years ago, when the Duke of Jing’s Manor was massacred, he had still been a child. Protected by loyal servants to the very end, he fled for his life through countless dangers. Fortunately, he happened to encounter Pei Zhao’an, who was returning late after official duties. Pei Zhao’an rescued him, allowing him to survive.
Even so, everyone else in the Duke of Jing’s Manor perished.
Only the young heir remained alive.
The extermination of the entire household became a shocking tragedy that shook both the court and the empire.
Afterward, Wen Jingxu stayed at the Marquis of Zhen’an’s Manor for nearly half a year.
The Emperor, taking pity on him, allowed him to inherit the title of Duke of Jing, making him the youngest duke in Great Qi. Through his own hard work, he gradually became one of Emperor Ren’an’s sharpest and most trusted blades.
It was during those six months at the Marquis Manor that he grew close to the Pei siblings.
At the time, Wen Jingxu was only about the same age as Yan Huaijin.
Overnight, every family member who had loved him and every servant who had protected him died before his eyes.
He had witnessed the massacre unfold…
…yet had been powerless to stop it.
Whenever nightmares dragged him awake at midnight, all he saw was a world drenched in blood.
Thus, during his first few months at the Marquis Manor, he often jolted awake screaming from nightmares, drenched in cold sweat until his bedding was soaked through.
During the day, however, he transformed into a silent little hedgehog who kept everyone at arm’s length.
The children of the second and third branches looked down on him.
They refused to play with him.
They frequently made cruel remarks, deliberately ensuring he overheard every word.
Without realizing it, they only deepened the demons haunting his heart.
One night, unable to sleep, Pei Yaosheng intended to read Buddhist scriptures to calm herself.
Suddenly, she heard a piercing scream coming from another courtyard.
Following the sound, she rushed over—
Only to find Wen Jingxu slashing himself with a knife.
When she saw the blood running down his arms, along with layer upon layer of old scars and scabs, she realized this had been happening for far longer than a day or two.
Her heart softened.
She brought him back to her courtyard, carefully bandaged every wound, and patiently spent half the night talking to him.
Step by step, she guided him gently.
She told him that he had to keep living.
Only by surviving…
Only by becoming stronger…
…could he avenge his family.
Only then could he protect those who would become even more important to him in the future.
To the young Wen Jingxu, such a gentle and mature older sister resembled the blazing sun high above the heavens.
Her warmth illuminated the darkness in his heart.
From that day onward…
…she became the faith that sustained his entire life.
Yet even now, no one in the Marquis Manor fully understood how their engagement had come about.
Back then, Pei Yaosheng had only just completed her coming-of-age ceremony.
Coincidentally, Pei Yunting had been left behind at the Hanlin Academy to sweep fallen leaves.
She only learned later, from bits and pieces her family mentioned, that Wen Jingxu had personally come to propose marriage.
Completely baffled, Pei Yaosheng assumed he was merely joking around like he had as a child.
Instead, he solemnly vowed that his proposal was sincere.
If he uttered even half a lie, may lightning strike him dead and condemn him to eternal damnation.
He even promised that after marriage, he would never take another wife or concubine.
Every asset belonging to the Duke of Jing’s Manor would be entrusted to his wife.
Even then, Pei Yaosheng remained unconvinced.
So Wen Jingxu invited her into the courtyard.
The two spoke privately for nearly half an hour.
When they returned…
Pei Yaosheng’s face was flushed red.
She quietly agreed to marry him.
Even now, no one knew exactly what sort of spell Wen Jingxu had cast over her.
Everything afterward proceeded naturally.
Their birth charts were exchanged.
The betrothal gifts were delivered.
Their wedding date was set for Wen Jingxu’s nineteenth birthday.
According to the fortune-teller, it was a case of double happiness.
Pei Yunting always felt something wasn’t quite right.
She had secretly tried probing Wen Jingxu’s thoughts.
Unfortunately, he was no longer the gullible boy he had once been.
His mind had become far too deep.
With her current abilities, she simply couldn’t outplay him.
The fragile sapling that had once struggled through wind and rain had quietly grown, unnoticed by all.
It had become a towering tree whose depths no one could fathom.
Only after seeing the smile that now permanently rested at the corners of Wen Jingxu’s lips—
And the gentle, affectionate, yet stubborn gaze he directed at her eldest sister—
Did Pei Yunting finally realize the truth.
This wasn’t some sudden marriage proposal at all.
He had been planning it for years.
Everything they were seeing now…
…was merely the final result of Wen Jingxu’s meticulous calculations and patient schemes.
From then on, although Wen Jingxu harbored no ill will toward her—and even seemed to regard her as a younger sister—
Pei Yunting instinctively kept her distance.
Thus, the moment their eyes met inside Ninghui Hall, she immediately changed direction and sat in the chair beside Pei Zhonghan instead.
Catching her tiny movement, a fleeting smile crossed Wen Jingxu’s face before disappearing just as quickly.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Emperor Ren’an was personally copying his one hundred and ninety-ninth version of the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion.
Unlike Pei Yunting’s slender, elegant Slender Gold Script, whose strokes were sharp like orchids and bamboo, Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy possessed powerful grace and vigorous beauty.
The Emperor greatly admired it.
As a result, throughout the empire, scholars eagerly imitated Wang Xizhi’s clerical, cursive, regular, and running scripts.
Even so, he also held Pei Yunting’s calligraphy in exceptionally high regard.
Although Slender Gold Script had originally been created by Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, he still praised Pei Yunting’s writing for its elegant bearing, lively brushwork, and slender yet powerful strokes.
Though delicate, they never appeared weak.
Though refined, they lacked not the slightest trace of resentment.
At that moment, Eunuch Jiang stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, His Highness the Third Prince requests an audience.”
The Emperor did not respond immediately.
Eunuch Jiang simply lowered his head and waited.
Only after Emperor Ren’an finished his final stroke and wiped his hands with a cloth did he speak.
“The Third has come?”
“Let him in.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Yan Huaijin entered, first offering a respectful salute before reporting,
“Father, our informants have sent back news.”
“Li Rao truly did not disappoint me.”
“Oh?”
“Let’s hear it.”
“You already knew of his arrogant behavior in Youzhou.”
“Now the army has chosen to conduct drills near the State of Zou, passing through the State of Zhou.”
“His greed has become even more blatant.”
“He repeatedly whispered slander into Prince Yi’s ears.”
“Prince Yi actually allowed him to do as he pleased.”
“They halted the army inside Zhou territory and demanded extravagant tribute from the Zhou court.”
Yan Huaijin leaned back in his chair, absentmindedly turning the jade pendant at his waist.
His voice grew colder with every word.
“At first, the King of Zhou ignored his demands.”
“But Li Rao flew into a rage.”
“He allowed his soldiers to rampage throughout Zhou under the excuse of gathering grass for their horses.”
“The people suffered terribly.”
“The common folk had no way to survive.”
“Since he acted under Great Qi’s banner, Zhou dared not provoke conflict.”
“In the end, they endured the humiliation and presented several chests of fine silk and precious jewels…”
“…just to send that plague away.”
Even Emperor Ren’an frowned deeply.
It was obvious father and son shared the same disgust.
“Bullies who oppress the weak deserve no honor.”
“When everything is over…”
“…remember to send people to Zhou with proper compensation.”
“Your son obeys.”
The Emperor opened another memorial and glanced over it.
“What you uncovered in Youzhou overlaps somewhat with what Wen Jingxu has already reported.”
“Another day…”
“…you, Wen Jingxu, and Zhou Sinian should examine every hidden connection together before reporting back to me.”
The father and son discussed state affairs for a while longer.
Just before leaving, Yan Huaijin suddenly remembered something.
“Father.”
“The matter you promised me…”
“About allowing Pei Wanwan to leave Yanjing…”
“You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”
The Emperor snorted.
“A gentleman’s word cannot be taken back.”
“Do I look like someone who breaks his promises?”
“Then your son can rest easy.”
Yan Huaijin laughed openly.
“After the Lantern Festival, I’ll take her to Suzhou.”
“And while we’re there, I’ll also complete the task you’ve entrusted to me.”
“Enough with your sweet talk.”
“I’ll be dining with your mother in Kunning Palace tonight.”
“Since it’s the New Year, don’t cause trouble.”
“I understand.”
He had only taken a few steps before Emperor Ren’an called after him again.
“Third.”
“How are things between you and that girl from the Pei family now?”
Yan Huaijin paused.
Knowing exactly what his father meant, he replied,
“Father, why ask about this all of a sudden?”
The Emperor snorted again.
“You stubborn brat.”
“I was thinking…”
“If you truly can’t manage it…”
“…I’ll simply issue an imperial decree arranging your marriage.”
“Please don’t interfere.”
“I can handle it myself.”
After Yan Huaijin left, Emperor Ren’an held the memorial in his hands and laughed as he scolded,
“Your mother was right.”
“A grown son really can’t be kept anymore.”
At the same time…
Beneath a corridor somewhere within the Imperial City, someone stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance.
Yanjing stretched before him like a magnificent painting.
Night gradually descended.
Thousands of lanterns lit the city.
The entire scene grew increasingly lively.
Yet…
His eyes held nothing but silent ridicule.
After a long while, he coughed twice.
An attendant immediately stepped forward, draping the cloak hanging over his arm across the man’s shoulders.
“Young Master…”
“It’s so cold.”
“Please take care not to catch a chill.”
“It’s fine…”
He coughed softly again.
“I’ve been forced to play the invalid for so many years.”
“I know better than anyone…”
“…I’m not nearly as weak as I appear.”
“There’s no need to worry.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
He cast one final, lingering glance toward the smoke rising from Yanjing’s rooftops and the countless glowing lanterns illuminating the city.
Then he turned and walked away.
Many things would eventually come to pass.
Survival.
Growing up.
Very soon…
Very soon…
He would finally return to his homeland…
…and fulfill the mission to which he had devoted his entire life.
When that day arrived—
Not only Yanjing…
Even every inch of land within a hundred miles…
…would be crushed beneath his feet.
A peaceful life.
Prosperity.
Contentment.
Nothing more than fleeting illusions.